Political Science
Indian Democracy Chapter - 1
Exercise
Very short answer questions:
1. Which political party won the election held in 1945 in England?
Ans : Labour Party.
2.When did the "Cabinet Mission" come to India?
Ans : The "Cabinet Mission" come to India in March 1946.
3. Who was the first Chairman of the Constituent Assembly?
Ans : Dr. Sacchidananda Sinha.
4. Who was the President of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution?
Ans : Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
5. In which constitutional amendment, were the words "Socialist" and "Secular" incorporated in the "Preamble"?
Ans The 42nd constitutional amendment on 18 December, 1976.
6.From which Latin word has the English word "Federation" been derived?
Ans : "Federation" is derived from the Latin word "Foedus".
7. Which country is regarded as the "Homeland" Of federation?
Ans : USA.
8. Is there Dual citizenship system in India?
Ans : No.
9. From which country's constitution has the concept of India's Parliamentary democracy been followed?
Ans : England.
Short answer questions:
1. Why did the British government send the Cabinet Mission to India?
Ans : The British government sent the Cabinet Mission to India to create a congenial environment and to make necessary preparation for framing a new constitution of India.
2 . According to which Act, India's administration was governed between 15 August, 1947 to 26 January, 1950 and enacted this Act?
Ans : The Govt. of India Act, 1935.
3. Why are the words "We the people of India" have been incorporated in the preamble?
Ans : The words "we the people of India " have been in the preamble to emphasise the fact that the actual authority of the Indian Constitution is in the hands of Indian people and belongs solely to them, and they are the major force behind the making of the Indian Constitution.
4. What is meant by the term Sovereign?
Ans : Sovereignty is the supreme and absolute power of the state. It means people have the supreme right to take decisions on internal as well as external matters. No external power can dictate the government.
5. According to which constitutional amendment the two words "Socialist" and "Secular" have been incorporated in the preamble and in which year?
Ans : The 42nd constitutional amendment in the year 1976.
6.What do you mean by "Quasi-federal state"?
Ans : Quasi federal refers to a system of government where the distribution of powers between the centre and the state are not equal. Here the the central or the union government is more powerful than the provinces or regional governments.
7. Which Indian Act had introduced limited Parliamentary democracy in pre-independence India?
Ans: The Government of India Act 1935 had introduced limited parliamentary democracy in pre-independence India.
Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss how the ideals of the Indian Constitution have been manifested in its Preamble.
Ans: The Preamble is the introduction to the constitution. In the Preamble of the Indian constitution, the main features viz., ideals and objectives of the constitution have been described. The Preamble of the Indian constitution is regarded as the soul, conscience, threshold and the keys of the Indian constitution. Every word in the Preamble which is started with the words '' We the people of India'', bears certain meaning and ideal. It is important to mention that the makers of the Indian constitution paid due attention to manifest the every aspect of rich ancient Indian culture and civilisation as the guiding principles in the pages of the Indian constitution. The significant words in the preamble are Sovereign, Secular, Republic and Democratic. All these words reflect the ideals and spirit of the constitution. The Preamble also establishe justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
2. Write in details about what is meant by sovereign, socialist, secular, Democratic and Republic.
Ans : The Constitution of India declares India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, Democratic and Republic.
Sovereign - India is a sovereign state. The sovereign nature of India signifies that people of India have supreme right to take decisions on internal as well as external matters.
Socialist - India is a socialist state. The word signifies that there shall not be inequality among the people of India in regards to their income, status and the standard living.
Secular - India is a secular state. The word 'secular' signifies that state has no official religion of its own. Every citizen has complete freedom to follow any religion.
Democratic - India is a democratic state. As democratic country, every citizen has the right to vote and can take part in the election process.
Republic - India is a republic. The Hesd of the state (the president) shall be elected by the people. The post of the head of the state shall not be hereditary nor a person selected by someone.
3. Discuss the objective resolutions put forward word by Pandit Nehru in relation to the Indian constitution.
Ans : The main points of the objectives resolutions put forward by Pandit Nehru are as fellow:
I) The constituent Assembly is determined to declare India as Independent Sovereign Republi.
II) A union of states shall be constitued with the British-ruled Indian territory and the erstwhile princely kingdoms willing to join the Indian territory.
III) Social, economic and political justice, equality, religious liberty, freedom of expressing thought and opinion of the Indian people will be duly recognised.
IV) Importance shall be given to safeguard the freedom, sovereignty and integrity of the country.
V) India shall extend full cooperation for the sake of cordial international relations, world Peace and welfare of the people.
4. Discuss the characteristics of the Indian federal system.
Ans : Ans : the characteristics of the Indian federal system are :
(i) The Indian federal system is a “quasi-federal” system. It consists of feature of both the federal and unitary forms of government.
(ii) There is only one constitution for the whole Indian federation and no separate constitution for each constituent state of India.
(iii) The constituent state of the Indian union have no right to secede from the union.
(iv) Central government is more powerful than the state governments as all the important powers have been vested in the central government by the constitution.
(v) The governor of a state acts as a representative of the central government. His appointment also does not corroborate the federal character of India.
(vi) Single citizenship has been granted in India to ensure sovereignty and integrity of the country.
5. Explain the important characteristics of the Parliamentary form of government in India.
Ans: The important characteristics of the parliamentary form of government in India :
(i) The parliament of India is formed with two houses, viz the house of people (Lok Sabha) and the council of states (Rajya Sabha)
(ii) The president of India is an important constituent of the Indian parliament.
(iii) The Indian parliament forms a government created by people and is responsible to the people.
(iv)The head of state is an elected representative of the people.
Indian Democracy Chapter - 1
Exercise
Very short answer questions:
1. Which political party won the election held in 1945 in England?
Ans : Labour Party.
2.When did the "Cabinet Mission" come to India?
Ans : The "Cabinet Mission" come to India in March 1946.
3. Who was the first Chairman of the Constituent Assembly?
Ans : Dr. Sacchidananda Sinha.
4. Who was the President of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution?
Ans : Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
5. In which constitutional amendment, were the words "Socialist" and "Secular" incorporated in the "Preamble"?
Ans The 42nd constitutional amendment on 18 December, 1976.
6.From which Latin word has the English word "Federation" been derived?
Ans : "Federation" is derived from the Latin word "Foedus".
7. Which country is regarded as the "Homeland" Of federation?
Ans : USA.
8. Is there Dual citizenship system in India?
Ans : No.
9. From which country's constitution has the concept of India's Parliamentary democracy been followed?
Ans : England.
Short answer questions:
1. Why did the British government send the Cabinet Mission to India?
Ans : The British government sent the Cabinet Mission to India to create a congenial environment and to make necessary preparation for framing a new constitution of India.
2 . According to which Act, India's administration was governed between 15 August, 1947 to 26 January, 1950 and enacted this Act?
Ans : The Govt. of India Act, 1935.
3. Why are the words "We the people of India" have been incorporated in the preamble?
Ans : The words "we the people of India " have been in the preamble to emphasise the fact that the actual authority of the Indian Constitution is in the hands of Indian people and belongs solely to them, and they are the major force behind the making of the Indian Constitution.
4. What is meant by the term Sovereign?
Ans : Sovereignty is the supreme and absolute power of the state. It means people have the supreme right to take decisions on internal as well as external matters. No external power can dictate the government.
5. According to which constitutional amendment the two words "Socialist" and "Secular" have been incorporated in the preamble and in which year?
Ans : The 42nd constitutional amendment in the year 1976.
6.What do you mean by "Quasi-federal state"?
Ans : Quasi federal refers to a system of government where the distribution of powers between the centre and the state are not equal. Here the the central or the union government is more powerful than the provinces or regional governments.
7. Which Indian Act had introduced limited Parliamentary democracy in pre-independence India?
Ans: The Government of India Act 1935 had introduced limited parliamentary democracy in pre-independence India.
Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss how the ideals of the Indian Constitution have been manifested in its Preamble.
Ans: The Preamble is the introduction to the constitution. In the Preamble of the Indian constitution, the main features viz., ideals and objectives of the constitution have been described. The Preamble of the Indian constitution is regarded as the soul, conscience, threshold and the keys of the Indian constitution. Every word in the Preamble which is started with the words '' We the people of India'', bears certain meaning and ideal. It is important to mention that the makers of the Indian constitution paid due attention to manifest the every aspect of rich ancient Indian culture and civilisation as the guiding principles in the pages of the Indian constitution. The significant words in the preamble are Sovereign, Secular, Republic and Democratic. All these words reflect the ideals and spirit of the constitution. The Preamble also establishe justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
2. Write in details about what is meant by sovereign, socialist, secular, Democratic and Republic.
Ans : The Constitution of India declares India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, Democratic and Republic.
Sovereign - India is a sovereign state. The sovereign nature of India signifies that people of India have supreme right to take decisions on internal as well as external matters.
Socialist - India is a socialist state. The word signifies that there shall not be inequality among the people of India in regards to their income, status and the standard living.
Secular - India is a secular state. The word 'secular' signifies that state has no official religion of its own. Every citizen has complete freedom to follow any religion.
Democratic - India is a democratic state. As democratic country, every citizen has the right to vote and can take part in the election process.
Republic - India is a republic. The Hesd of the state (the president) shall be elected by the people. The post of the head of the state shall not be hereditary nor a person selected by someone.
3. Discuss the objective resolutions put forward word by Pandit Nehru in relation to the Indian constitution.
Ans : The main points of the objectives resolutions put forward by Pandit Nehru are as fellow:
I) The constituent Assembly is determined to declare India as Independent Sovereign Republi.
II) A union of states shall be constitued with the British-ruled Indian territory and the erstwhile princely kingdoms willing to join the Indian territory.
III) Social, economic and political justice, equality, religious liberty, freedom of expressing thought and opinion of the Indian people will be duly recognised.
IV) Importance shall be given to safeguard the freedom, sovereignty and integrity of the country.
V) India shall extend full cooperation for the sake of cordial international relations, world Peace and welfare of the people.
4. Discuss the characteristics of the Indian federal system.
Ans : Ans : the characteristics of the Indian federal system are :
(i) The Indian federal system is a “quasi-federal” system. It consists of feature of both the federal and unitary forms of government.
(ii) There is only one constitution for the whole Indian federation and no separate constitution for each constituent state of India.
(iii) The constituent state of the Indian union have no right to secede from the union.
(iv) Central government is more powerful than the state governments as all the important powers have been vested in the central government by the constitution.
(v) The governor of a state acts as a representative of the central government. His appointment also does not corroborate the federal character of India.
(vi) Single citizenship has been granted in India to ensure sovereignty and integrity of the country.
5. Explain the important characteristics of the Parliamentary form of government in India.
Ans: The important characteristics of the parliamentary form of government in India :
(i) The parliament of India is formed with two houses, viz the house of people (Lok Sabha) and the council of states (Rajya Sabha)
(ii) The president of India is an important constituent of the Indian parliament.
(iii) The Indian parliament forms a government created by people and is responsible to the people.
(iv)The head of state is an elected representative of the people.
